Thread handling mechanism



Dec. 15, 1953 M. PEDERSEN THREAD HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed Aprill0,rl9 48 BY ,flTToRNEYMMQfW Patented Dec. 15, 1953 THREAD HANDLINGMECHANISM Mathias Pedersen, Valley Stream, N. Y., assignor to AmericanMachine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New Jersey pril 10, 1948,Serial No.

Original application A 20,198, now Patent No. 29, 1952. Divided and2,604,863, dated July this application December 20, 1951, Serial No.262,518

11 Claims.

This invention relates to sewing machines, and more particularly tosewing machines capable of making special types of stitches either fordecorative or utilitarian purposes, especially the type in which adouble pointed needle, provided with a thread having a loose and a fixedend, is projected back and forth through the work fed either manually orautomatically over a Work supporting table into the range of action ofthe needle.

This invention consists further in improvements in sewing machines ofthe type illustrated in Johnson Patents 2,368,066; 2,386,800 and 2,389,-151, and particularly to improvements in mechanisms for decorating coatsof all types, mens and womens suits and other garments where y this typeof decoration is desired. This application is a division of applicantscopending application, Serial Number 20,198, filed April l0, 1948, forSpecial Stitch Sewing Machine, now Patent 2,604,863, granted July 29,1952.

The present invention consists of novel mechanism for handling thethread and preventing it from being spitted or broken by the needle, or

the thread puller which pulls the loose end of l the thread through thework during the formation of each stitch.

The invention is characterized by the provision of an improved threadtrap and a thread support which are mounted beneath the Work supporttable in relatively close proximity to the needle, and means fordisplacing of thread out of the path of the needle into a thread trapand onto the thread support, so that due to the operation of the threadpuller which pulls the loose end of the thread through the work, thedanger of breakage of thread is greatly minimized and substantiallyeliminated.

With these and other objects in view but not specically mentioned, theinvention consists in the novel method, and certain combinations andconstructions which will be hereinafter fully described, and then setforth in the claims appended.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of this specification andin which like characters of reference indicate the same or like parts:

Fig. 1 is an end elevation of the novel thread guide and trap mechanism;

Fig. 2 is an isometric view showing the lower needle bar and threadguiding mechanism in action, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of themechanism constituting the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the mechanism constituting the presentinvention is adapted primarily for use in the machine shown in the abovereferred to Johnson patents, although it may have use in other sewingmachines capable of utilizing structure made in accordance with theinvention. In the illustrated embodiment, it is shown in conjunctionwith a machine for making angle stitches, as described hereinafter. InFigure 3 it will be seen that there has been provided upper and lowerneedle bars 98, |00 respectively, which project a double pointed needleN, having an eye located between the points, back and forth throughmaterial or work to be sewed and form therein a plurality of under andover type stitches. The eye of the needle is threaded with a threadwhich after the rst stitch is made, has a fixed and a loose end. Duringthe sewing operations and after the formation of each stitch, the looseend of the thread is pulled through the work in known manner. Themechanism for operating the needle bars, thread puller and other threadhandling means in general can be of the same type as that descibed inthe above referred to Johnson patents.

As is well understood in the art, double pointed needle N is graspedalternately by chucks |02 in needle bars 98 and |00, and projected backand forth with the thread through the work. Needle bars 96, |00 aremounted in brackets 99 connected to cam actuated levers (not shown)which reciprocate them in proper timed relation with the operation ofthe stitch forming mechanism 50 and other moving parts of the machine inorder to form the desired types of stitches. Reference is made toJohnson Patent 2,368,066 which shows in detail suitable mechanism foroperating the needle bars and coacting means for pulling the loose endof the thread through the Work.

In order to advance work (not shown) over work supporting table 4, andposition it properly thereon with respect to needle N, a presser foot|21 is provided. This foot carries a toe |3| mounted on pivot pin I 33in foot |27. A spring urged plunger (not shown) in a vertical bore (notshown) in foot |2`i normally urges toe |3| downwardly to substantiallyhorizontal position such as shown in Figure 3. The upward movement oftoe |3| is limited by a stop IBI mounted on foot |27. Toe |3| isprovided with two elongated portions |39 spaced apart a distance greaterthan the diameter of the needle. Elongated p0rtions |39 overlie aportion of angle work shifting and lifting plate 52 over which the workis moved.

The construction and operation of plate 52 are fully shown and describedin said copending application, and therefore further detailed showingand description, except what is necessary to make the operation ofqthemechanism oonstituting the present 'giiventin rcl'an are Lor'nt'td 'in"the interes'tofbrevity.

Presser foot |21 cooperates with an upper feeding foot l2| and a lowerfeed plate l23 ptvided with a conventional toothed-worlg'eeding dog l22.Plate 52 is provided withv 'a cutout` Snot'y shown) which allows upperwt f gerngifoot 12| and feeding dog |22 toaetfe gage 3i/omite be fedwhile located upon plate 52 andft'rveli'it juieretliroug'h.Prefeamytiiewurk is positioned e substantially 4 x as the result ofneedle N moving with the thread through the work and also supports slackthread clear of the path of movement of needle N. Plate section 288 hasa cut'outportion 289 which 5 'allows'loiveririedle brtl toE'rr'ove5u`p`fand down "'beneath'ta'ble 4. It ishal'so'p-rovided with anupstandng projection 299 which tends to hold lint *on plate section 28B,and a tapered thread :292::2. l During the operation of thread puller203 faboutdrum '9`shdwn in dotted lines in Figure 3"n`'p1`11'1ig't`l1fiefldose end L of thread T through lworkunt shown), thethread is initially disposedhas. at 1in Eigure 2. However, when needleTISNSTIIOVed DWadly, this end of the thread is fdisplaed laterallyrearward to the position indicatd at' IIlfwherein it is guided up theinclined rfacesoffguide 292 into the space between the Vari'ac'ze ofguide 292 and flange 286. At the 20 Ysame time the thread is movedbetween rods 212 and i 219 fand, f upwa'rdly intoY thefspace between rdportiondllandl iramef2, yWl'ie'refit-i eld Von thread 'shifting i -o'r*displacing Y Y fWhile" so -he1d the loose :er/ildbf the threa'd"clgearof the pathnf'jrn'ovenehtiof vneedle QN. vv/Vhjenthread-"fpullrh't 'has com- "'pleted`i`ts `threadpulling- -operationAinfjwhihf"'the l loose end4 `VL 'of f the threadis r-disposiad n"'tliel L 'threadl` receiving drum 'f 209,*di'spla`cing loer 9 6 moves from4the position shown roken ylinesjin Figujref-lvjtov that'shown'ullfliies. f rhradfospacefefi pf a "pinBBJin'flei/er i360' 'fuicrurn'edtL 3p 2""Bn'n itns'ienefrfram iThez-te @ad bfhbhd ;A displacer' 296ispivotally connected' tol'evrSM swingably gmount'ed' on i a studffi'Asubpo'rtdiby a `lbr'aelfret 'l 398 *s itablymountedpn thelfriie of themachir'1e. j-Afcam*dlloweri 31 Of'on'lver 30a funs in ai ami traklgmurumtm-i 2 m 40f`sha'ft 2G5soh'de's`igned'that displacer'52/9l' Ais"sooperatednthat nger' Mit-engages the 'thread"='at t;l'1e1-pro'peritiielin brder"*to^function "int the manner described. A

jihe" invention abve'gdscibed'nray be E varied "in construction thescope 'ofi fthe* elalijhs, forit'hef'particulardevice,l seletedtoilliistr'a'te the invention, is but pneofiianylpsible"confcretef'rhbqdiments'[ofthe fsme. 'it-is' not? 'there--ifoieftbe restrietedfit the 'precise tiisbf the 5o-structure'stemmed-teamed.

which said lower needle bar may move, means mounting said support andtrap above said drum and adjacent said lower needle bar, a taperedguiding surface formed on said support for guiding said loose end ofthread into said support, and means for moving said thread upwardlyalong said guiding surface onto said support.

3. In a sewing machine of the type having a work support table, an upperneedle bar and a lower needle bar adapted to pass a double pointedneedle and a thread back and forth through work tobe stitched, a threadreceiving drum and a thread puller for pulling the loose end of saidthread through said work and disposing it upon said drum; a threadsupport, a lint trap, means mounting said support and trap above saiddrum and adjacent said lower needle bar, a tapered guiding surfaceformed on said support for guiding said loose end of thread into saidsupport, a thread trap located adjacent to and coacting with said threadsupport and lint trap, a reciprocatory thread engaging finger, and meansfor moving said finger into engagement with a portion of said thread toshift it laterally and dispose it in said thread trap and on saidsupport.

4. In a sewing machine of the type having a work support table, an upperneedle bar and a lower needle bar adapted to pass a double pointedneedle and a thread back and forth through work to be stitched, a threadreceiving drum and a thread puller for pulling the loose end of saidthread through said work and disposing it upon said drum; a threadsupport, a lint trap, means mounting said support and lint trap abovesaid drum and adjacent said lower needle bar, a thread guide formed onsaid support for guiding said loose end of thread into said support, athread trap coacting with said thread guide and lint trap, said threadtrap comprising substantially vertically spaced guide and threadpositioning members mounted above said drum and adjacent said supportand lint trap and positioned adjacent the path of movement of saidthread puller, an oscillatory thread engaging finger, and means formoving said finger into engagement with a portion of said thread toshift it laterally to dispose said thread in said thread support andbetween said thread positioning members.

5. In a sewing machine of the type having a work support table, an upperneedle bar and a lower needle bar adapted to pass a double pointedneedle and a thread back and forth through work to be stitched, a threadreceiving drum, and a thread puller for pulling the loose end of saidthread through said work and disposing it upon said drum; a threadsupport, means mounting said support above said drum and adjacent saidlower needle bar, a tapered guiding surface formed on said support,means for guiding said loose end of said thread onto said support, athread trap mounted adjacent to and coacting with said thread support, areciprocatory thread engaging nger, a thread hook on said finger, andmeans for moving said finger in timed relation with said movement ofsaid needle bars to engage said hook with a portion of said loose end ofsaid thread to displace it laterally along said guiding surface anddispose it in said thread trap and on said support.

6. In a sewing machine of the type having a work support table, an upperneedle bar and a lower needle bar adapted to pass a double pointedneedle and a thread back and forth through work to be stitched, a threadreceiving drum, and a thread puller for pulling the loose end of saidthread throughsaid work'and disposing it upon said drumya threadsupport, means mounting Said support above said drum and adjacent saidlower needle bar, a tapered guiding surface formed on said support forguiding said loose end of thread onto said support, a thread trapcoacting with said guiding surface, said thread trap com prising spacedguide and thread positioning members positioned proximate said threadsupport and adjacent the path of movement of said thread puller, anoscillatory thread engaging finger, and means for moving said fingerinto engagement with a portion of said thread to shift it laterally todispose said thread on Vsaid thread support and between said threadpositioning members.

'7. In a sewing machine of the type having a work support table,A anupper needle bar and a lower needle bar adapted to pass a double pointedneedle and a thread back and forth through work to be stitched, a threadreceiving drum and a threadpuller for pulling the loose end of saidthread through said work and disposing it upon said drum, a threadsupport, means mounting said support above said drum and adjacent saidlower needle bar, a thread guide formed on said supportforguiding saidloose end 0f thread into said support, a thread trap coacting with saidthread guide, said thread trap comprising spaced guide and threadpositioning members, means mounting said thread trap above said drum,adjacent said lower needle bar and adjacent the path of movement of saidthread puller, an oscillatory thread engaging nger, and means for movingsaid linger into engagement with a portion of said thread to shift itlaterally relative to said needle and to dispose said thread on saidthread support and between said thread positioning members.

8. In a sewing machine of the type having a gaging said hook with aportion of said thread to shift it laterally along and between saidmembers and dispose it in said thread trap.

9. In a sewing machine of the type having a Work support table, an upperneedle bar and a lower needle bar adapted to pass a double pointedsubstantially vertically positioned spaced upper and lower guide andthread positioning members positioned adjacent the path of movement ofsaid thread puller, said upper member having a thread confining portionand a downwardly inclined portion having a guide nose on the free endthereof, said lower member having a substantially horizontal portioncoacting with said threadfconnmg member and 'alterm'inaldownwardlyincllhed' portion substa-ntiall'yf' parallel with said"-downwardiH in; clnedportions ofi said* upperA member and spacedtlierefrom',I auf-oscillatory@thvead-engag-l ingfnger.and-means:-foe=movkg said innger into` engagement with laportionfot-fsaidthread toshift' ltl'aterally tcl-L displace-said threadalongand between said threadk guideand post-'- tioningfmembersandflcatigeitm2 samt-thread confining 'portland 10.' Threadfhandling#mechanlsnrflor a: sewing machine having a-needlebar compris'm'ga'substantilly horizontals thread-fl support and* lint trap,meansmountingsaidisuppmt and "cr/anadjacent lsai'dnneed-l'e "bari"aesubstntdally vertical thread: guidingsurface f6rntedon saidf-supportforl .'guidingsaidy thread 'upwardlycnwfsaid r"sup'' port;awthreaditrapt'V coactingse'with' said 'thread support;- I andl'. n'nirtrapg mms-i mounting said threadl trap adjacent; saidthrendsupportand-'lint trap,.i a-thread engagingY nngerf: andj L'meansffo'r movingesaidlnger ln=a=2closed patho travelinto' engagement Vwithfaportionlosaid thread'toshift talongfsaid guiding surfaceOntdsaid'support and laterally Jto1fdispclse'ita'fin:seiid fth'eadtrani" ll- Thread handling mechanism-'fdr asewg maehinehavinganeedl'e='bar 'comprising `wallread support, means mountngfsad'support' adjacentsaid lower needle-bar, athre'ad guide-formed on saidsupport l for)guiding saidv threadV` into-'seid support, a'threadftrap mountedadjacent and coaeting W-ith said thread guide,y said` thread' trapcomprising substantially vertically l'spaced yguide andthread-positioning members positioned-A at one-'sideef said: needle-bar,an oscillatory' thread engaging-finger; andmeans Ior'movi-ng'- said ngerintoengagement wthaportioni ofsaid thread to shift' it laterallyto move'said thread alngwandl -over said thread guide i andX ontoi said supportand along and betweenfsad thread 1pc-'- stioning members into'rsaidftrap.-y

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